What are the best free learning apps for preschoolers?

Several strong options cost nothing and show no ads: Khan Academy Kids, PBS KIDS Games, the Sesame Street app and Duck Duck Moose. They differ in style more than quality, so let your child try two or three and keep the one that holds their attention.

How can I tell if an "educational" app actually teaches anything?

Researchers suggest checking four things: is your child actively thinking (not just tapping), focused rather than distracted by rewards and ads, learning something meaningful, and talking about it with someone. App store "education" labels are not reviewed for learning value, so independent reviews help.

Is there evidence that reading apps like Lexia, HOMER or Reading Eggs work?

Some school programs, such as Lexia Core5, have independent studies strong enough to earn top ratings on Evidence for ESSA. Many consumer apps cite studies they funded or host themselves, often short and small, so treat headline percentages as marketing until an outside source confirms them.

Which phonics apps are worth trying for a child learning to read?

Free systematic-phonics options include Starfall's learn-to-read path, Teach Your Monster to Read on a computer, Duolingo ABC and Khan Academy Kids; paid options include HOMER, Hooked on Phonics and Reading Eggs. Apps work best as extra practice alongside reading real books together.

Where can my child read lots of books for free?

Your public library card unlocks ebooks and audiobooks through Libby, and many schools provide Sora. Free picture-book sites include Storyline Online (read-alouds by actors), Unite for Literacy and Oxford Owl's leveled ebooks.

Do math apps like Khan Academy, Zearn, DreamBox or IXL improve test scores?

Several have studies linking regular use to gains, and Zearn and DreamBox are rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA. A common finding is that results depend on dose: kids who use them about the recommended time each week benefit, while most use them far less. Much of the data is reported by the companies themselves.

Is Prodigy really free, and is it a good math game?

Prodigy's math questions are free, but the game heavily promotes a paid membership for in-game extras, which advocacy group Fairplay complained to the FTC about in 2021; Prodigy disputes the criticism. Many kids enjoy it, so it can work if you are comfortable saying no to the upsell.

What age should kids start coding, and with what?

Kids as young as 5 can learn sequencing with picture blocks in ScratchJr, Lightbot or Kodable, with no reading required. Around 8 many move to Scratch, then to typed code in CodeCombat, Swift Playgrounds or Code.org's courses. There is no proven best age; making things they care about matters more.

Are paid subscriptions like ABCmouse worth it compared with free apps?

Paid apps can offer a more complete, sequenced curriculum, but free options like Khan Academy Kids cover a lot of the same ground, and many libraries give ABCmouse access free. Check renewal and cancellation terms first; the FTC fined ABCmouse in 2020 over how it handled them.

Where can I find trustworthy reviews of kids' apps?

Common Sense Media rates apps for age fit and learning value, Common Sense Privacy grades their data practices, and Children and Media Australia flags ads, in-app purchases and gambling-like features. Educational App Store and Reading Rockets add teacher-reviewed lists.

What is the best way for kids to learn to type?

Free step-by-step courses such as TypingClub and Typing.com teach touch typing well, and Nitro Type adds racing for motivation once the basics are in place. Short daily practice tends to beat long occasional sessions.

Can a young child learn a second language from an app?

Apps and videos like Lingokids, Little Pim, Gus on the Go and Duolingo can build vocabulary and interest, but real fluency at young ages comes mostly from live conversation with people. Treat apps as exposure and fun, not a replacement for speaking.

What free science and geography sites are good for kids?

NASA Space Place and NASA Science for Kids, National Geographic Kids, PhET simulations, Science Buddies for experiments and Seterra for map quizzes are all free. Note that Wonderopolis, an old favorite, closed in July 2025.

Are there safe chess sites for kids?

ChessKid is built for children with restricted chat and kid-only play, and Lichess is free, ad-free and has a kid mode that turns off chat. Both include puzzles and lessons.

The Big Index

Learning apps, sites and games

The established places kids learn online, from PBS Kids to Scratch, and the sites that review them.

98 entries
56 free
12 must-reads ★

Questions parents ask

What are the best free learning apps for preschoolers?
Several strong options cost nothing and show no ads: Khan Academy Kids, PBS KIDS Games, the Sesame Street app and Duck Duck Moose. They differ in style more than quality, so let your child try two or three and keep the one that holds their attention.
- Khan Academy Kids (Khan Academy (nonprofit))
- Sesame Street app (Sesame Workshop (nonprofit))
- Duck Duck Moose (Duck Duck Moose (Khan Academy))
More in Learning apps, sites and games
How can I tell if an "educational" app actually teaches anything?
Researchers suggest checking four things: is your child actively thinking (not just tapping), focused rather than distracted by rewards and ads, learning something meaningful, and talking about it with someone. App store "education" labels are not reviewed for learning value, so independent reviews help.
- Putting education in "educational" apps: lessons from the science of learning (Hirsh-Pasek, Zosh, Golinkoff, Gray, Robb and Kaufman)
- Common Sense Media app ratings: how we rate (Common Sense Media (nonprofit))
- Design tricks commonly used to monetize young children's app use (Michigan Medicine (University of Michigan))
- Educational App Store (Educational App Store)
More in Learning apps, sites and games
Is there evidence that reading apps like Lexia, HOMER or Reading Eggs work?
Some school programs, such as Lexia Core5, have independent studies strong enough to earn top ratings on Evidence for ESSA. Many consumer apps cite studies they funded or host themselves, often short and small, so treat headline percentages as marketing until an outside source confirms them.
- Evidence for ESSA (Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins)
- Lexia Core5 Reading (Lexia Learning (Cambium Learning))
- Can an app close the literacy gap? Efficacy study of Learn With Homer (Susan B. Neuman, NYU (hosted by HOMER))
- Reading Eggs research (Blake eLearning)
More in Learning apps, sites and games
Which phonics apps are worth trying for a child learning to read?
Free systematic-phonics options include Starfall's learn-to-read path, Teach Your Monster to Read on a computer, Duolingo ABC and Khan Academy Kids; paid options include HOMER, Hooked on Phonics and Reading Eggs. Apps work best as extra practice alongside reading real books together.
- Starfall (Starfall Education Foundation (nonprofit))
- Teach Your Monster to Read (Teach Your Monster (Usborne Foundation charity))
- Duolingo ABC (Duolingo)
- Hooked on Phonics (Hooked on Phonics)
More in Learning apps, sites and games
Where can my child read lots of books for free?
Your public library card unlocks ebooks and audiobooks through Libby, and many schools provide Sora. Free picture-book sites include Storyline Online (read-alouds by actors), Unite for Literacy and Oxford Owl's leveled ebooks.
- Libby (OverDrive)
- Sora (OverDrive Education)
- Storyline Online (SAG-AFTRA Foundation)
- Unite for Literacy (Unite for Literacy)
- Oxford Owl (Oxford University Press)
Do math apps like Khan Academy, Zearn, DreamBox or IXL improve test scores?
Several have studies linking regular use to gains, and Zearn and DreamBox are rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA. A common finding is that results depend on dose: kids who use them about the recommended time each week benefit, while most use them far less. Much of the data is reported by the companies themselves.
- Harvard researchers probe student time spent using DreamBox math software (Center for Education Policy Research, Harvard)
- Khan Academy efficacy results, November 2024 (Khan Academy blog)
- Did Zearn boost Colorado math scores? A study says yes, but an expert says questions remain (KUNC (public radio))
- Evidence for ESSA (Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins)
Is Prodigy really free, and is it a good math game?
Prodigy's math questions are free, but the game heavily promotes a paid membership for in-game extras, which advocacy group Fairplay complained to the FTC about in 2021; Prodigy disputes the criticism. Many kids enjoy it, so it can work if you are comfortable saying no to the upsell.
- Prodigy Math (Prodigy Education)
- Advocates to FTC: Prodigy Math Game Preys On Kids and Families (Fairplay (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood))
- Prodigy: a losing equation (Fairplay)
What age should kids start coding, and with what?
Kids as young as 5 can learn sequencing with picture blocks in ScratchJr, Lightbot or Kodable, with no reading required. Around 8 many move to Scratch, then to typed code in CodeCombat, Swift Playgrounds or Code.org's courses. There is no proven best age; making things they care about matters more.
- ScratchJr (DevTech (Tufts), MIT Media Lab, Playful Invention Co.)
- Scratch (Scratch Foundation / MIT Media Lab)
- Code.org (Code.org (nonprofit))
- Lightbot (Lightbot)
- Swift Playgrounds (Apple)
Are paid subscriptions like ABCmouse worth it compared with free apps?
Paid apps can offer a more complete, sequenced curriculum, but free options like Khan Academy Kids cover a lot of the same ground, and many libraries give ABCmouse access free. Check renewal and cancellation terms first; the FTC fined ABCmouse in 2020 over how it handled them.
- ABCmouse Early Learning Academy (Age of Learning)
- Khan Academy Kids (Khan Academy (nonprofit))
- ABCmouse to pay $10 million to settle FTC charges of illegal marketing and billing practices (US Federal Trade Commission)
Where can I find trustworthy reviews of kids' apps?
Common Sense Media rates apps for age fit and learning value, Common Sense Privacy grades their data practices, and Children and Media Australia flags ads, in-app purchases and gambling-like features. Educational App Store and Reading Rockets add teacher-reviewed lists.
- Common Sense Media app ratings: how we rate (Common Sense Media (nonprofit))
- Common Sense Privacy Program evaluations (Common Sense Media)
- Know Before You Load app reviews (Children and Media Australia (nonprofit))
- Educational App Store (Educational App Store)
- Reading Rockets literacy apps (Reading Rockets (WETA))
What is the best way for kids to learn to type?
Free step-by-step courses such as TypingClub and Typing.com teach touch typing well, and Nitro Type adds racing for motivation once the basics are in place. Short daily practice tends to beat long occasional sessions.
- TypingClub (edclub)
- Typing.com (Teaching.com)
- Nitro Type (Teaching.com)
Can a young child learn a second language from an app?
Apps and videos like Lingokids, Little Pim, Gus on the Go and Duolingo can build vocabulary and interest, but real fluency at young ages comes mostly from live conversation with people. Treat apps as exposure and fun, not a replacement for speaking.
- Lingokids (Lingokids (Monkimun))
- Little Pim (Little Pim)
- Gus on the Go (Gus on the Go)
- Duolingo efficacy research (Duolingo)
What free science and geography sites are good for kids?
NASA Space Place and NASA Science for Kids, National Geographic Kids, PhET simulations, Science Buddies for experiments and Seterra for map quizzes are all free. Note that Wonderopolis, an old favorite, closed in July 2025.
- NASA Space Place (NASA)
- National Geographic Kids (National Geographic)
- PhET Interactive Simulations (University of Colorado Boulder)
- Seterra (GeoGuessr)
- Wonderopolis (closed July 2025) (National Center for Families Learning)
Are there safe chess sites for kids?
ChessKid is built for children with restricted chat and kid-only play, and Lichess is free, ad-free and has a kid mode that turns off chat. Both include puzzles and lessons.
- ChessKid (Chess.com)
- Lichess (Lichess (volunteer-run, donation-funded))

Must-reads

AppFree
PBS KIDS Games app
PBS KIDS, 2016
The same PBS games bundled in one phone and tablet app, with games you can download for offline play. Free, with no ads and no in-app purchases, in English and Spanish.
pbskids.org
AppFree
Khan Academy Kids
Khan Academy (nonprofit), 2018
A free, ad-free app for ages 2 to 8 with thousands of reading, math and social-emotional activities led by Kodi the bear. Curriculum built with Stanford experts; schools can buy a classroom version. No subscriptions for families.
khanacademy.org
GameFree + paid
Starfall
Starfall Education Foundation (nonprofit), 2002
A long-running nonprofit site that teaches reading through phonics songs and animations, pre-K to grade 5. The four-step learn-to-read path is free; a low-cost membership adds math and more grades. No ads and no data collection from children.
starfall.com
GameFree + paid
Teach Your Monster to Read
Teach Your Monster (Usborne Foundation charity), 2012
Kids design a monster and teach it letters and sounds through three games that follow a systematic phonics order. Free on computers from a charity started by the Usborne publisher; the tablet apps may cost a few dollars. Sister games cover numbers and food.
teachyourmonster.org
AppFree
Libby
OverDrive, 2017
The free app for borrowing ebooks, audiobooks and magazines from your public library with a library card, including a large kids' collection and a teen/kids filter. Probably the best-value reading app most families already have access to.
overdrive.com
ToolFree
Khan Academy
Khan Academy (nonprofit), 2008
The free nonprofit course library from kindergarten through early college: short videos, practice with hints, and mastery tracking, strongest in math. Parents can create a child account and assign work. No ads.
khanacademy.org
ToolFree
Scratch
Scratch Foundation / MIT Media Lab, 2007
The free block-coding language and community where kids 8 to 16 make games, stories and animations and remix each other's projects. No ads, moderated, and used in schools worldwide. The best-known first step into programming.
scratch.mit.edu
CourseFree
Code.org
Code.org (nonprofit), 2013
The nonprofit behind the Hour of Code, with free K-12 computer science courses, game-like puzzle lessons and app-building tools. Now runs an Hour of AI too. Free for students and teachers, funded by donors and tech companies.
code.org
ToolFree
Chrome Music Lab
Google Creative Lab, 2016
Free browser experiments for playing with rhythm, melody, chords and sound waves, such as the Song Maker grid. No account, no ads. A gentle way for any age to make music and hear how it works.
musiclab.chromeexperiments.com
GuideFree
Common Sense Media app ratings: how we rate
Common Sense Media (nonprofit)
How the best-known US review site rates kids' apps: an age rating from child development, not app store labels, plus a separate learning rating covering engagement, depth and support. Thousands of reviews, free to read.
commonsensemedia.org
DataFree
Evidence for ESSA
Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins, 2017
A free Johns Hopkins database that rates reading, math and other school programs (including apps like DreamBox, Lexia, IXL and Zearn) by the strength of their research under US federal evidence tiers. The best quick check on vendor claims.
evidenceforessa.org
ReviewFree
Putting education in "educational" apps: lessons from the science of learning
Hirsh-Pasek, Zosh, Golinkoff, Gray, Robb and Kaufman, 2015
The widely cited paper proposing four pillars of a truly educational app: kids are actively thinking, engaged without distraction, learning meaningful things, and interacting socially. A practical yardstick for any app on your phone.
journals.sagepub.com

All 98

Early years all-in-one

PBS KIDS GamesPBS KIDS · Game · Free · Ages 0–5The free web arcade from public TV: hundreds of short games starring Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Molly of Denali and other shows, each tied to a learning goal. No sign-up, and a good first stop for preschoolers.
★PBS KIDS Games appPBS KIDS · 2016 · App · Free · Ages 0–5The same PBS games bundled in one phone and tablet app, with games you can download for offline play. Free, with no ads and no in-app purchases, in English and Spanish.
★Khan Academy KidsKhan Academy (nonprofit) · 2018 · App · Free · Ages 0–5A free, ad-free app for ages 2 to 8 with thousands of reading, math and social-emotional activities led by Kodi the bear. Curriculum built with Stanford experts; schools can buy a classroom version. No subscriptions for families.
Khan Academy Kids improves pre-literacy skills in preschoolers, research confirmsKhan Academy blog · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Khan Academy's own write-up of a University of Massachusetts Amherst trial in which preschoolers who used the app gained more on early literacy measures than a comparison group. Useful, but it is the vendor summarizing a study about its product.
Duck Duck MooseDuck Duck Moose (Khan Academy) · 2008 · App · Free · Ages 0–5About twenty small toddler and preschool apps (Moose Math, Build A Truck, Pet Bingo and more). The studio is now owned by Khan Academy, and the App Store listings say every app is free with no ads or subscriptions.
ABCmouse Early Learning AcademyAge of Learning · 2010 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A large paid curriculum for ages 2 to 8: reading, math, science and art lessons along a step-by-step path, with tickets and a virtual room as rewards. Many public libraries offer free access in the branch or with a card.
ABCmouse to pay $10 million to settle FTC charges of illegal marketing and billing practicesUS Federal Trade Commission · 2020 · Report · FreeThe FTC said ABCmouse made it hard to cancel and did not clearly disclose auto-renewal; the company settled for $10 million without admitting wrongdoing. A reminder to check how any kids' app subscription renews and cancels.
HOMERBegin (HOMER by Begin) · 2014 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A subscription app for ages 2 to 8 built around a phonics path, plus stories, math and social-emotional lessons, personalized by age and interests. About $60 a year or $10 a month. The company's 74% reading-gain claim is its own marketing.
Can an app close the literacy gap? Efficacy study of Learn With HomerSusan B. Neuman, NYU (hosted by HOMER) · Study · Free · Ages 0–5The study behind HOMER's headline claim, run by literacy researcher Susan Neuman: preschoolers using the app for a few weeks gained more on early reading tests than a control group. Short trial, small sample, hosted by the company.
★StarfallStarfall Education Foundation (nonprofit) · 2002 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A long-running nonprofit site that teaches reading through phonics songs and animations, pre-K to grade 5. The four-step learn-to-read path is free; a low-cost membership adds math and more grades. No ads and no data collection from children.
Sesame Street appSesame Workshop (nonprofit) · 2014 · App · Free · Ages 0–5The official free Sesame Street app: more than 100 games and hundreds of clips and songs for toddlers to kindergartners, ad-free, with an optional free account to save favorites. Sesame Workshop also makes several smaller single-topic apps.
LingokidsLingokids (Monkimun) · 2015 · App · Free + paid · Ages 0–5A playful app for roughly ages 2 to 8 that started as English-language learning and now covers early academics and life skills through songs, games and videos. Free tier with limits; the full app is a paid subscription. No ads.
Sago MiniSago Mini (Spin Master) · App · Paid · Ages 0–5Gentle, open-ended play apps for ages 2 and up (Sago Mini World, School, First Words), with free printables. Apps come through a World subscription or Spin Master's Piknik bundle, which also includes some Toca Boca apps.
Toca BocaToca Boca (Spin Master) · 2010 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Makers of Toca Boca World, a digital dollhouse where kids build places and act out stories. Free to download and ad-free, but much of the world sits behind in-app purchases, so a purchase password is worth setting. Pretend play rather than lessons.
Originator Endless seriesOriginator Inc. · 2013 · App · Free + paid · Ages 0–5Endless Alphabet, Endless Reader, Endless Numbers, Endless Spanish and the Endless Learning Academy: funny animated monsters act out letters, sight words and numbers. Some content is free, with the rest unlocked by purchase or subscription.
Montessori PreschoolEdoki Academy · 2016 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A subscription app for ages 3 to 7 that turns Montessori-style activities (sound-letter work, counting beads, practical life, music) into tablet play, in several languages. A digital take on Montessori, not an official Montessori body.
ABCyaABCya (IXL Learning) · Game · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A big library of short browser games for pre-K to grade 6, sorted by grade: letters, typing, math facts, puzzles. Free on the web with ads; a premium plan removes them. Popular in classrooms for free-choice time.
FunbrainFunbrain · 1997 · Game · Free · Ages 5–8One of the oldest kids' game sites: arcade-style math and reading games plus online comics and books for grades preK to 8. Free with ads, which is the trade-off to know about.
CBeebiesBBC · Game · Free · Ages 0–5The BBC's preschool channel online, with games, shows and printables from its programs. No ads. Some video plays only in the UK, but many games work anywhere.

Reading and books

Chinese education company wins battle to buy reading platform Epic for $95MEdWeek Market Brief · 2025 · Article · Some freeTrade reporting on how Epic was sold during BYJU's financial collapse. Useful background if you wonder who owns your child's reading app and why its terms may change. May be paywalled.
Hooked on PhonicsHooked on Phonics · 1987 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8The classic step-by-step phonics program, now an app paired with mailed storybooks and workbooks, for pre-readers through grade 2. One sound at a time, then a short book that uses it. Paid subscription.
★Teach Your Monster to ReadTeach Your Monster (Usborne Foundation charity) · 2012 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Kids design a monster and teach it letters and sounds through three games that follow a systematic phonics order. Free on computers from a charity started by the Usborne publisher; the tablet apps may cost a few dollars. Sister games cover numbers and food.
Reading EggsBlake eLearning (3P Learning) · 2008 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8A paid reading program for ages 2 to 13 with lessons, games and a library, plus sister products Fast Phonics and Mathseeds. Placement test, then a sequenced path. The company publishes its own research and ESSA claims.
Reading Eggs researchBlake eLearning · Report · Free · Ages 5–8The company's collection of studies and evaluations on Reading Eggs, including the ones it uses for its ESSA evidence rating. A good example of vendor research to read with care: check who ran each study and how big it was.
Raz-KidsLearning A-Z (Cambium Learning) · 2004 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8A school-licensed library of leveled ebooks with quizzes and recording, organized by letter level (A to Z). Kids usually get a login from their teacher; families can buy it but rarely need to.
Lexia Core5 ReadingLexia Learning (Cambium Learning) · 2013 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8An adaptive reading program sold to schools for pre-K to grade 5, covering phonological awareness through comprehension. Rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA. If your child uses it at school, the teacher can see detailed progress.
VooksVooks · 2019 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A streaming service of picture books turned into gently animated read-alouds with highlighted words. Ad-free; about $10 a month or $70 a year after a 7-day trial, with cheaper teacher plans. Best for kids under 9.
★LibbyOverDrive · 2017 · App · FreeThe free app for borrowing ebooks, audiobooks and magazines from your public library with a library card, including a large kids' collection and a teen/kids filter. Probably the best-value reading app most families already have access to.
SoraOverDrive Education · 2018 · App · Free · Ages 8–12OverDrive's student reading app: schools load it with ebooks and audiobooks that kids borrow with their school login, and it can link to the public library too. If your school uses it, it is free for your child.
Oxford OwlOxford University Press · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Oxford University Press's site for families, with a free ebook library of leveled readers (including phonics books) for ages 3 to 11 after a free sign-up, plus parent tips. UK-oriented but works anywhere.
ReadWorksReadWorks (nonprofit) · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A nonprofit library of free reading passages and question sets for K-12, many with audio, used widely by teachers. Parents can make a free account to find passages at a child's level.
BeanstackZoobean · App · FreeThe app many public libraries and schools use for summer reading challenges: kids log minutes or books and earn badges. Free to families through a participating library or school.
StoryberriesStoryberries · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8A free website of short illustrated stories and fairy tales for bedtime, sorted by age and theme. Ad-supported; a pleasant light option, not a structured reading program.

Math

★Khan AcademyKhan Academy (nonprofit) · 2008 · Tool · FreeThe free nonprofit course library from kindergarten through early college: short videos, practice with hints, and mastery tracking, strongest in math. Parents can create a child account and assign work. No ads.
Khan Academy efficacy results, November 2024Khan Academy blog · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Khan Academy's summary of its own school-partner data: students who practiced around 30 minutes a week or more showed larger test gains. Correlational and vendor-reported, but a useful view of the dose that seems to matter.
Prodigy MathProdigy Education · 2011 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A fantasy role-playing game where battles are won by answering curriculum math (and now English) questions, roughly grades 1 to 8. Free for schools and kids; optional parent memberships unlock extras, a model critics say pressures children.
Zearn MathZearn (nonprofit) · 2012 · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8A nonprofit K-8 math program of short video lessons and digital practice that mirrors many school curricula. Free individual accounts; schools pay for full licenses. Rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA.
Did Zearn boost Colorado math scores? A study says yes, but an expert says questions remainKUNC (public radio) · 2025 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Public radio coverage of a study linking Zearn use to better Colorado test scores, with an outside researcher explaining why the design cannot fully separate the app from other factors. A fair model of how to read edtech results.
Harvard researchers probe student time spent using DreamBox math softwareCenter for Education Policy Research, Harvard · 2016 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8Harvard researchers found more time on DreamBox was associated with higher math scores, but most students used it far less than recommended. A useful lesson for any app: the dose a child actually gets matters.
Math PlaygroundMath Playground LLC · 2002 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A teacher-built site of math games, logic puzzles and word-problem tools such as Thinking Blocks for grades K to 6+. Free with ads; a Plus subscription removes them and unlocks extras.
Coolmath GamesCoolmath.com · 1997 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Around 2,500 browser games billed as strategy, logic and skill games. Some build reasoning, many are simply fun; it is ad-supported with a paid ad-free option. Coolmath4Kids is the younger sibling.
Enter the DragonBox: can a game really teach third graders algebra?EdSurge · 2016 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12A thoughtful look at what kids actually learn from DragonBox: they get fast at the moves, but transferring that to paper algebra needs a grown-up or teacher to connect the two.
Todo Math (Enuma)Enuma · 2013 · App · Some free · Ages 5–8Enuma makes Todo Math, an early math app designed to be usable by kids with learning differences, and Kitkit School, which co-won the Global Learning XPRIZE. Check the store for current pricing.
SumdogSumdog · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Adaptive math, spelling and grammar practice inside games and contests, for roughly ages 5 to 14. Free basic access, with schools and families paying for the full version. Popular in UK schools.
ST Math (Evidence for ESSA entry)Evidence for ESSA, Johns Hopkins · Review · Free · Ages 5–8The independent evidence summary for ST Math, MIND Education's visual, language-light math puzzles sold to schools, where a penguin named JiJi crosses the screen when kids solve a problem. Shows what the studies found.
XtraMath (Common Sense review)Common Sense Media · Review · Free · Ages 5–8Common Sense's review of XtraMath, a free nonprofit tool for a few minutes a day of timed addition to division fact practice. Plain and repetitive by design; good for fact fluency, not for understanding.

Coding and robotics

★ScratchScratch Foundation / MIT Media Lab · 2007 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12The free block-coding language and community where kids 8 to 16 make games, stories and animations and remix each other's projects. No ads, moderated, and used in schools worldwide. The best-known first step into programming.
Scratch for parents and guardiansScratch Foundation · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Scratch's own guide for families: what kids do there, how the community is moderated, privacy, and how to get started together. Worth reading before a child joins the sharing side.
ScratchJrDevTech (Tufts), MIT Media Lab, Playful Invention Co. · 2014 · App · Free · Ages 5–8A free tablet app for ages 5 to 7 where children snap picture blocks together to make characters move, talk and jump. No reading needed. Built by Tufts and MIT researchers studying early childhood coding.
★Code.orgCode.org (nonprofit) · 2013 · Course · FreeThe nonprofit behind the Hour of Code, with free K-12 computer science courses, game-like puzzle lessons and app-building tools. Now runs an Hour of AI too. Free for students and teachers, funded by donors and tech companies.
CodeCombatCodeCombat · 2013 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A fantasy adventure game where you move your hero by typing real Python or JavaScript. Early levels are free; the full game and classroom versions are paid. Best for kids ready to type code, about 9 and up.
HopscotchHopscotch Technologies · 2013 · App · Paid · Ages 8–12A block-coding app for iPad, Mac and the web where kids build and share games and art, with a busy kids' community. Paid subscription or family pass for full access.
Swift PlaygroundsApple · 2016 · App · Free · Ages 8–12Apple's free iPad and Mac app that teaches real Swift code through puzzle lessons, then lets learners build actual apps. Best for kids about 10 and up who want to go past blocks.
KodableKodable · 2012 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A K-5 coding curriculum of cute fuzz-ball puzzles that moves from sequencing to real JavaScript, plus a typing game. Free teacher accounts with paid school and family plans.
LightbotLightbot · 2008 · Game · Some free · Ages 5–8A puzzle game where you program a little robot to light tiles, teaching sequencing, procedures, loops and conditionals without any reading. A free Hour of Code version exists; the full apps are a small one-time purchase.
LEGO EducationLEGO Education · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12LEGO's classroom science and computer science kits, FIRST LEGO League robotics and free lessons. The SPIKE robotics line, long a school favorite, is being retired in favor of newer kits. Mainly sold to schools.

Science, geography and the world

Mystery ScienceMystery Science (Discovery Education) · 2014 · Course · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Short video-led science lessons for K-5 built around kids' questions (why is the sky blue?) with simple hands-on activities. Used by many elementary teachers; schools pay, with free trials and some free lessons.
National Geographic KidsNational Geographic · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free animal facts, quizzes, games, Weird But True videos and homework help from Nat Geo. Ad-supported and partly promotes the magazine and books, but the animal pages are a reliable start for reports.
NASA Science for KidsNASA · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12NASA's newer kids' hub of games, videos, make-it activities and short articles on Earth, climate, the Sun and the solar system. Free and ad-free; pairs well with Space Place.
Smithsonian Learning LabSmithsonian Institution · 2016 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Millions of free images, recordings and texts from Smithsonian museums, plus teacher-made collections you can browse by topic. More for teachers and curious older kids than for little ones.
SeterraGeoGuessr · 1997 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Hundreds of map quizzes on countries, capitals, states, flags and more, in over 40 languages. A classic for learning geography by repetition. Free to play, now part of GeoGuessr, with a paid tier.
PhET Interactive SimulationsUniversity of Colorado Boulder · 2002 · Tool · Free · TeensFree research-based simulations for physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and math: build circuits, mix solutions, launch projectiles. No ads. Best for upper elementary through high school.
Britannica KidsEncyclopaedia Britannica · Tool · Some free · Ages 8–12A reading-level-sorted children's encyclopedia, often free through a school or library login. A trustworthy alternative to random web pages for school reports.
DuckstersDucksters · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A free, ad-supported site of plain kids' articles on history, geography, science and biographies, each with a short quiz. Handy for quick homework help.
PBS LearningMediaPBS and local stations · Tool · FreeFree classroom-ready videos, interactives and lesson plans drawn from PBS shows like NOVA and Nature, searchable by grade and standard. Built for teachers, easy for homeschoolers too.
Google Arts & CultureGoogle · 2011 · Tool · FreeVirtual museum tours, zoomable artworks, history exhibits and small art games from thousands of museums. Free, with no kids' mode, so younger children need a grown-up nearby.
Wonderopolis (closed July 2025)National Center for Families Learning · 2025 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Wonderopolis, the much-loved free site that answered one kid's question a day, closed for good on 31 July 2025. Many lists and chatbots still recommend it, so this is the notice that it is gone.

Creativity and music

★Chrome Music LabGoogle Creative Lab · 2016 · Tool · FreeFree browser experiments for playing with rhythm, melody, chords and sound waves, such as the Song Maker grid. No account, no ads. A gentle way for any age to make music and hear how it works.
GarageBand for iOSApple · 2011 · App · Free · Ages 8–12Apple's free music studio for iPhone and iPad: touch instruments, drum loops, a grid for building songs and real multitrack recording. Plenty for older kids writing and recording their first songs.
Book CreatorBook Creator (Kami) · 2011 · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A simple tool for making digital books with text, drawings, photos, audio and video, widely used in classrooms. Free account with limits; schools pay for more. Now owned by Kami.
TinkercadAutodesk · 2011 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A free browser tool for 3D design, electronics circuits and block-based code, made by Autodesk. Kids drag shapes together to design things they can 3D print. Good from about age 8 with help.

Typing, chess and languages

TypingClubedclub · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free step-by-step touch-typing lessons with games and videos, plus Jungle Junior for younger kids. Free for families and schools forever, with an optional paid school edition. Used in tens of thousands of schools.
Typing.comTeaching.com · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Free typing lessons, tests and games for K-12, plus digital literacy and coding units for schools. The free version shows ads; Typing.com Plus removes them.
Nitro TypeTeaching.com · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A typing race game: the faster and more accurately you type, the faster your car goes. Hugely popular with upper-elementary kids. Ad-supported with a paid upgrade and in-game cars to collect.
LichessLichess (volunteer-run, donation-funded) · 2010 · Game · FreeA free, open-source chess site with no ads and no premium tier, run on donations. Puzzles, lessons, and play against people or the computer, plus a kid mode that turns off chat.
Duolingo ABCDuolingo · 2020 · App · Free · Ages 5–8Duolingo's free learn-to-read app for preschool and early elementary kids: bite-size phonics, sight word and tracing lessons with Duolingo's characters. No ads and no paid tier.
Gus on the GoGus on the Go · 2012 · App · Some free · Ages 0–5Vocabulary apps for young kids with an owl guide, in around 30 languages, plus story apps. Gentle and simple. The site looks little updated since the mid-2010s, so check the apps still run on your device.
Little PimLittle Pim · 2006 · Video · Paid · Ages 0–5Five-minute language videos with a panda for babies to preschoolers, in 12 languages including Spanish, Mandarin and Arabic. Ad-free subscription about $10 a month. Exposure, not fluency, at this age.

Classes, magazines and printables

OutschoolOutschool · 2017 · Course · PaidA marketplace of live small-group video classes for ages 3 to 18, taught by independent teachers on almost anything: Minecraft math, Harry Potter writing, chess, coding. Each class is priced separately; quality varies by teacher.
Highlights KidsHighlights for Children · 1946 · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 5–8The website of the long-running Highlights magazine, with jokes, puzzles, Hidden Pictures, audio stories and free coloring pages. Magazines and book clubs for babies to tweens are paid subscriptions.
Ranger RickNational Wildlife Federation (nonprofit) · 1967 · Newsletter · Paid · Ages 5–8Wildlife magazines from the National Wildlife Federation, published since 1967: Ranger Rick Cub (0-4), Jr. (4-7), Ranger Rick (7-12), plus Dinosaurs and Zoobooks. Paid subscriptions; the site has free nature activities.
Cricket MediaCricket Media · 1973 · Newsletter · PaidPublisher of literary and science magazines for babies to teens (titles include Babybug, Ladybug, Spider, Cricket, Ask and Muse). Ad-free stories, poems and nonfiction by real authors. Paid subscriptions.
Education.comEducation.com (IXL Learning) · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Over 40,000 worksheets, activities, games and guided lessons for pre-K to grade 8, searchable by grade and skill. Free account with limited downloads; premium unlocks the full library. Part of IXL.
Teachers Pay TeachersTPT (IXL Learning) · 2006 · Tool · Some freeA marketplace where teachers sell (and give away) lesson plans, worksheets and activities for pre-K to 12. Filter by Free to find thousands of no-cost printables. Quality varies by seller. Now owned by IXL.
TwinklTwinkl · 2010 · Tool · Free + paidA huge UK-founded library of printable worksheets, slides and activities for ages 3 to 18, organized to US, UK and other curricula. Some free resources; most need a paid membership.
GoNoodleGoNoodle · 2013 · Video · Free · Ages 5–8Short dance, movement and mindfulness videos used in elementary classrooms for brain breaks, and free to use at home. Some videos sneak in counting or spelling, but this is movement, not lessons.

Reviews, ratings and evidence

★Common Sense Media app ratings: how we rateCommon Sense Media (nonprofit) · Guide · FreeHow the best-known US review site rates kids' apps: an age rating from child development, not app store labels, plus a separate learning rating covering engagement, depth and support. Thousands of reviews, free to read.
Common Sense Privacy Program evaluationsCommon Sense Media · Review · FreePrivacy grades for popular kids' and school apps, based on a close reading of each privacy policy: does it sell data, show ads, track kids? A quick check before signing a child up.
Common Sense Education review: Raz-KidsCommon Sense Education · Review · FreeAn example from Common Sense's teacher-focused review site, which grades classroom tools on learning value with pros, cons and teacher comments. Search the site for any app your school assigns.
★Evidence for ESSACenter for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins · 2017 · Data · FreeA free Johns Hopkins database that rates reading, math and other school programs (including apps like DreamBox, Lexia, IXL and Zearn) by the strength of their research under US federal evidence tiers. The best quick check on vendor claims.
★Putting education in "educational" apps: lessons from the science of learningHirsh-Pasek, Zosh, Golinkoff, Gray, Robb and Kaufman · 2015 · Review · Free · Ages 0–5The widely cited paper proposing four pillars of a truly educational app: kids are actively thinking, engaged without distraction, learning meaningful things, and interacting socially. A practical yardstick for any app on your phone.
Design tricks commonly used to monetize young children's app useMichigan Medicine (University of Michigan) · Article · Free · Ages 0–5A summary of University of Michigan research on popular apps for young children: many, including some labeled educational, used ads, pop-up rewards and lures to purchase. Worth reading before trusting an app store's education label.
Prodigy: a losing equationFairplay · 2021 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12Fairplay's longer report on how Prodigy's free game is built to sell memberships, with screenshots of the prompts kids see. Advocacy, not neutral research, but a clear guide to spotting upsell design in any kids' game.
Educational App StoreEducational App Store · Tool · FreeA UK-based directory of education apps and AI tools reviewed by teachers against a 32-point learning framework, with extra checks for AI apps. Free account to compare and save apps; listings note what's free to try.
Know Before You Load app reviewsChildren and Media Australia (nonprofit) · Review · FreeAustralian nonprofit reviews of popular kids' apps and games written by child development professionals, flagging ads, in-app purchases, privacy problems and simulated gambling. Free and blunt.
Lingokids app guideInternet Matters · Guide · FreeOne of Internet Matters' parent guides to learning apps, covering what the app does, costs, data and settings. The UK nonprofit has similar guides for many skills-building apps, so search its site for yours.
Reading Rockets literacy appsReading Rockets (WETA) · Review · Free · Ages 5–8Public-media literacy site's reviewed list of reading and writing apps, each described by skill (phonics, comprehension, writing) and age. Short, non-commercial write-ups from a trusted reading source.
Children's Technology ReviewWarren Buckleitner · 1993 · Review · Some freeA long-running independent review publication on children's interactive media, edited by Warren Buckleitner, known for its rating rubric and the Dust or Magic institute for app designers. Some content is paid; check how recently it was updated.